Knowledge, attitudes, practices on disaster preparedness on common disasters and their associated factors among adolescents aged 15 to 19 years in educational divisional area, Kolonnawa-Dr Ruvini S Dissanayake

Abstract

Introduction: Disasters are as serious disruption of the functioning of a community or society due to hazardous events, leads to widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and impacts. Kolonnawa is an urban area abundant with natural hazards like floods, lightening and extreme wind events. Disaster preparedness aims to build the knowledge and capacities needed to efficiently manage a disaster. School based programmes have been implemented to develop a culture of preparedness among school community aiming to develop community capacity and resilience.

Objectives: To describe the knowledge, attitudes and practices on disaster preparedness on common disasters and their associated factors among school going adolescents aged 15-19 years in educational divisional area, Kolonnawa.

Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted among 510 school going adolescents aged 15 to 19 years in government schools in the Kolonnawa educational divisional area. A self-administered questionnaire was used as the data collection tool which included the questions on sociodemographic data of the respondents and household, knowledge on disasters and disaster preparedness, attitudes and practices of the respondents. A knowledge score was developed based on questions on disasters and disaster preparedness. 

Results: Response rate was 100%. According to the knowledge score majority 51.6% (n=263) had a good level of overall knowledge on disasters and disaster preparedness while their knowledge regarding different types of disasters (i.e. floods, lightning, landslides and fire) were poor. Majority 96.3% (n=491) had a positive attitudes towards disaster preparedness and majority 94.3% (n=481) had a positive attitudes towards educating students on disaster preparedness in the class rooms and necessity of having a drill at school. Majority of 58.6% (n=299) had a positive attitudes on their own ability, ability of their family, ability of their community to cope during a disaster. The overall knowledge was significantly associated with father’s/guardian’s educational level (P < 0.05), with monthly income of the family (P < 0.05), with previous disaster experienced by the participant and their family members (P < 0.05). 

There was significant association (P < 0.05) with overall knowledge on disasters and disaster preparedness with respondents’ attitudes towards disaster preparedness regarding their ability to cope during a disaster as an individual. Furthermore, there was significant association (P < 0.05) with overall knowledge with certain practices such as previous education from training on disaster management, having participated in an emergency/disaster management drill, having prior discussion with family members regarding disasters.

Conclusion and recommendations: Majority had a good level of overall knowledge on disasters and disaster preparedness while their knowledge regarding different types of disasters were poor. Majority had a positive attitudes towards disaster preparedness and their ability to cope during a disaster. School going adolescents can be used as promoters to build the community resilience by enhancing their knowledge and skills.

Key words: “Disasters”, “Disaster preparedness”, “School going adolescents”